Chapter 14:

"The culprit..."

Everyone leaned forward, anticipating the answer.

"The culprit is..." Layton turned and dramatically pointed his finger.

"Is you!"

Audible gasps filled the room.

"Emmy?" Luke and Flora both exclaimed.

Layton frowned. "Not Emmy, though someone we know. Isn't that right, Paul."

"Nyeh heh heh!" Emmy's voice was replaced by evil laughter. "Well Layton, I suppose I can't fool you, can I?"

And like that, Don Paolo, Layton's self-proclaimed arch nemesis, removed his disguise to show his true self.

"So how did you figure it out this time, Layton?" Don Paolo asked in a furious tone.

Layton began his explanation. "I had suspicions at first. I overheard your little dispute with Luke this morning. I'll take a guess you despise mornings by the way you acted. Emmy might get a bit agitated by Luke, but she would never shout at him as you did."

Don Paolo growled, but let the Professor continue without interruption.

Layton continued. "You also called Rosa 'That lady over there' which implied you didn't know her, though Emmy knows Rosa very well. You also do not possess the usual spirit Emmy has."

Don Paolo scowled.

"Wait! If Don Paolo was Emmy here, then where is the real Emmy?" Luke asked suddenly.

Flora and Luke exchanged worried glances.

Layton frowned. "I would guess that she was captured last night while we slept. And whoever is responsible hired Paul here to pretend to be Emmy, in order to throw us off her trail. Am I correct?"

Everyone glanced in Don Paolo's direction. "I don't know if they kidnapped her or not. I was paid to disguise myself as her. I didn't ask for details."

Rowland shook her head. "Emmy was taken right from under our noses. How humiliating."

"So we don't know where she is?" Flora cried out.

"We will find her, Flora." Luke stated with an encouraging smile.

"I just hope she is okay." Flora commented.

Luke looked up suddenly. "Where is Don Paolo?"

Everyone quickly observed the room. The Professor found a note laying where Don Paolo had originally been standing. Layton picked it up and began to read.

"Sorry to run out like this, but I'm afraid jail doesn't suit me. Good luck finding your missing friend. Hope you get crushed along the way. (Heh heh).

P. S. CURSE YOU LAYTON!

-Don Paolo"

Rowland took the letter from Layton and quickly read it. "Great! We lost our only suspect so far!"

"He didn't seem to know anything though." Luke explained.

"Even so, he may have had valuable information." Rowland faced the others. "We had better get to work. We need to find Emmy's whereabouts."

The others nodded.

'Don't worry, Emmy. We will find you."

Well, chapter 14 is complete! Where could Emmy be? Chapter 15 will be up as soon as possible!